Fire extinguisher

ABSTRACT

A FIRE EXTINGUSIHER HAVING A POLYVINYL PIPE CLOSED ON EACH END BY POLYVINYL CAPS AND PRESSURIZED WITH GAS AND DRY FIRE EXTINGUISHER MATERIAL ON ITS INTERIOR AND HAVING A DISPENSING HOSE CONNECTED TO ONE END AND COILED ABOUT THE PIPE WITH THE PIPE BEING SUPPORTED BY SPRING BIASED DETENT MEANS AND A FIXED DETENT MEANS RESPECTIVELY RECEIVED IN AXIALLY ALIGNED RECESSES IN EACH END OF THE EXTINGUSIHER FOR SUPPORTING THE EXTINGUSIHER BUT PERMITTING REEL-LIKE ROTATION OF THE EXTINGUISHER AS THE HOSE IS REMOVED OR FOR PERMITTING EASY MANUAL REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE SUPPORTING MEANS.

Nov. 7, 1972 w. c. THOMAS 3,702,157

FIRE EXT INGUISHER Filed Sept. 20, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR #Jmnmca ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1972 w. c. THOMAS FIRE EXTINGUISHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1971 INVENTOR hurse 7. 7m

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,702,157 Patented Nov. 7, 1972 3,702,157 FIRE EXTINGUISHER Walter C. Thomas, P.0. Box 22, Rte. 3,

Fort Myers, Fla. 33901 7 Filed Sept. 20, 1971, Ser. No. 181,889

Int. Cl. A62c U.S. Cl. 169-1 R Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fire extinguisher having a polyvinyl pipe closed on each end by polyvinyl caps and pressurized with gas and dry fire extinguisher material on its interior and having a dispensing hose connected to one end and coiled about the pipe with the pipe being supported by spring biased detent means and a fixed detent means respectively received in axially aligned recesses in each end of the extinguisher for supporting the extinguisher but permitting reel-like rotation of the extinguisher as the hose is removed or for permitting easy manual removal of the entire extinguisher from the supporting means.

This invention is in the field of fire extinguishing equipment and is specifically directed to a normally wall mounted but manually removable dry chemical type fire extinguisher formed of corrosion resistant material.

Previously known fire extinguishers have suifered from a number of disadvantages which have prevented their desirable usage to the fullest extent possible. For example, previously known fire extinguishers employing metal construction have required frequent inspection and replacement due to the deteriorating effects of rust and corrosion. In fact, the danger of rust and corrosion in metal type extinguishers frequently prevents the employment of pressurized extinguishers.

In addition, previously known fire extinguishers have frequently been quite heavy and consequently difiicult to maneuver and employ effectively. Moreover, many of the previously known fire extinguisher designs have been quite complex in design and operation.

The subject invention overcomes the aforementioned defects of previously known fire extinguishers in all respects. Specifically, the subject invention is directed to an elongated fire extinguisher formed of polyvinylchloride which is absolutely rust-proof and corrosion-proof, yet has great strength and durability. In addition, the subject invention is of extremely simple construction including an easily operated pistol grip type valve member mounted on the end of a hose connected to the polyvinylchloride extinguisher body. Operation of the pistol grip type valve serves to discharge pressurized dry fire extinguishing powder on the interior of the extinguisher with no complicated manipulations or other operations being necessary for use of the extinguisher.

An additional advantage of the subject invention resides in the fact that a hose member of substantial length is normally employed in coiled convolutions about the exterior of the extinguisher with the extinguisher being mounted on bracket means capable of permitting rotation of the chamber as the hose member is unreeled. However, in the event that the hose member is of inadequate length, the entire extinguisher can be easily removed by virtue of the fact that it is supported by spring biased detent means on the bracket supporting the extinguisher. Consequently, on those occasions in which a fire is in the vicinity of the extinguisher, it is unnecessary to detach the extinguisher from the supporting wall bracket or the like. However, should the fire be more remotely spaced from the extinguisher, it is a very simple matter to remove the extinguisher by exerting manual force in excess of the force exerted by the spring biased support members which normally support the extinguisher body.

These and other advantages of the subject invention will become more apparent when the following written description is considered in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment as mounted in vertically extending orientation on a wall bracket;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a number of the parts in exploded relationship and also having portions removed to illustrate the internal construction of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3.

Attention is initially invited to FIG. 1 of the drawings in which the preferred embodiment, generally designated 10, is shown in vertically extending orientation supported by an upper bracket plate 12 and a lower bracket plate 14 extending outwardly from a vertical shelf standard 16 of conventional construction. It should be noted that the shelf standard 16 embodies a plurality of rectangular apertures 18 into which the upper and lower bracket plates 12 and 14 are adjustably received in accordance with the length of the particular fire extinguisher being employed.

Upper bracket plate 12 includes a conical detent member 20 formed of nylon and mounted in a hollow support sleeve 22 on the end of the bracket member with the detent member 20 being urged downwardly by a spring means 24' extending between member 20 and the sleeve 22. Conical detent member 20 is mounted on a rod member 24 slidably extending through sleeve 22 with a retaining knob 26 being mounted on the upper end of rod 24 opposite the conical detent member 22 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

A fixed conical support member 30 formed of nylon is mounted on a threaded rod 32 received in a sleeve 34 on the outer end of lower bracket plate 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

The first extinguisher body comprises an elongated pipe member 36 formed of polyvinylchloride and having an upper end cap 38 on its uppermost end and a lower end cap 39 on its lowermost end as clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Upper end cap 38 and lower end cap 39 are both formed of polyvinylchloride and are adhesively secured to elongated pipe member 36 on each end of the elongated pipe member 36 as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, a threaded connection of the caps to the the pipe could be employed either solely or in conjunction with adhesive means if desired.

In addition, support nipples 46 and 48 are provided respectively on the upper and lower cap members 38 and 39 in an obivous manner. It should be noted that the support nipples provide a connection between the supporting brackets and the extinguisher body which permits rotation of the body in the manner of a reel in that the support nipples are mounted axially with respect to the elongated pipe member 36.

An internally threaded access nipple 42 is mounted in the upper surface of the upper end cap 38 to receive a tubular bolt fitting 44 which has an axially extending threaded passageway into which a pressure gauge 46 is received. The tubular bolt fitting 44 is removable from the access nipple 42 to enable the chamber 41 to be charged with a substantial quantity of dry chemical fire extinguisher material in the form of powder 50 of conventional type.

Chamber 41 is normally pressurized with dry nitrogen usable, as a propellant for expelling the powder outwardly through a right angle fitting 52 extending through cap 39 and the lower end of pipe member 36 into a flexible hose 54. A conventional pistol grip type valve member 56 is connected to the other end of the hose member 54 with the valve member 56 being normally closed for retaining the pressurized fire extinguisher material 50 on the intenor of the chamber.

The hose member 54 is of substantial length and is normally coiled about the external periphery of the elongated tubular pipe member 36 as shown in FIG. 1. The end of the hose having valve member 56 can be looped over the upper support bracket 12 as shown or the valve can be attached by a spring clip member attached to cap 38 or pipe 36. The extinguisher can be .easily used by merely unreeling the hose member so that the extinguisher rotates on the supporting conical detent members 20 and 30 in an obvious manner and the extinguisher operates in the manner of a supporting reel. However, should it be necessary to remove the entire extinguisher from the supporting bracket members, such can be easily accomplished by a simple manual movement overcoming the urging of spring means 24' in an obvious manner. For example, the extinguisher body can be lifted upwardly and then laterally or a mere lateral movement can be employed for such removal of the extinguisher from the supporting means.

In addition, it is possible to use the extinguisher as a stationary tank having a large diameter trunk hose extending from the tank to one or more T connectors from which smaller diameter hoses extend with a pistol grip valve on the end of all of the smaller diameter hoses. For example, the tankextinguisher could be mounted in an inconspicuous place in a boat with a trunk line extending both fore and aft of the vessel. Smaller diameter hoses could be connected to the trunk line at a plurality of locations if desired, such as in a container in the forward cabin, a container in the aft stateroom and a container in the flying bridge, as examples. Any one or more of such hose members could be employed at the same time to put out a fire.

As'another example, the tank could be mounted in a closet or attic of a hall, of a home with a trunk line extending from the tank. Smaller hose members could be connected by T connectors in any or every room in the house with the smaller hose members being coiled in containers mounted on the wall high enough to be out of reach of small children and with the pistol grip valve member being attached to the container by a spring clip or the like.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject device provides substantial advantages over the prior known systems in that it is completely corrosion resistant and is extremely easy to use.

An additional substantial advantage resides, in the fact that the only way in which the device can be filled is by virtue of the access nipple 42 in which the pressure gauge 46 is mounted. Anyone observing the presence of the pressure gauge in the tubular bolt fitting 44 would be immediately advised that the interior of the extinguisher was pressurized and consequently the fitting 44 should not be removed.

Obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment will occur to those skilled in the art; however, it should be understood that the spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited solely in light of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fire extinguisher comprising an elongated-hollow tubular member, upper and lower cap means respectively mounted on each end of said-elongated hollow tubular member for closing each end of said elongated hollow tubular member to define an internal chamber, dry chemi- 4 ca] fire extinguishing means on the interior of said chamber, hose means connected on one end to one of said cap means to communicate with the interior of said chamber, selectively operable normally closed valve means on the other end of said hose means, pressurized gas in said chamber operable for forcing said dry chemical fire extinguishing powder outwardly through said hose means in said valve means upon the opening of said valve means, and supporting means including biassed means for rotatably and removably supporting said extinguisher, while permitting the manual removal of said extinguisher by movement overcoming the urging of said bia'ssed means.

2. The invention of claim. 1 wherein said biassed means comprises a spring urged detent mounted on a bracket for engaging said upper cap means and additionally including a fixed detent mounted on a bracket for engaging said lower cap means.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said hose means is connected to a right angle fitting extending into said chamber and is normally maintained on said elongated hollow tubular member in coiled relationship with respect to the external surface thereof.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said elongated hollow tubular member is formed of polyvinylchloride.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said upper and lower cap means are each formed of polyvinylchloride.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said spring biassed detent means is mounted on an adjustable bracket plate that is adjustable axially with respect to hollow tubular member for accommodating fire extinguishers of dilferent axial length.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said elongated hollow tubular member and said upper and lower cap means are formed of polyvinylchloride.

8. The invention of claim 7 additionally including a threaded access opening in said uper cap communicating with said internal chamber and having an axial passageway extending its entire length and pressure gauge means mounted in said axial passageway indicative of pressure in said chamber.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said hose means is connected to a right angle fitting extending into said chamber and is normally maintained on said elongated hollow tubular member in coiled relationship with respect to the external surface thereof.

10. The invention of claim '9 wherein said biassed means comprises a spring urged detent mounted on a bracket for engaging said upper cap means and additionally including a fixed detent mounted on a bracket for engaging said lower cap means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 679,563 7/1901 Hutchings et al. 169-32 895,892 8/ 1908 Peters 248-201 X 1,088,444 2/ 1914 Nelson 248-311 X 1,158,904 11/1915 Dunbar 169-31 R 2,234,360 3/1941 Whitson 169-30 X 2,499,672 3/1950 Nurkiewicz 169-30 X FOREIGN PATENTS 8,058 6/ 1909 Great Britain 169-30 250,009 4/1926 Great Britain 169-30 713,585 8/ 1954 Great Britain 169-30 M. HENSON WOOD, Jn., Primary Examiner E. 'D. GRANT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

